Australia v Wales LIVE rugby: Latest result and reaction as Wallabies claim 2-0 series win

Wales could not hit back Melbourne, falling to the Wallabies for a second successive week

Rugby World Cup to be expanded to 24 teams in 2027

Wales’s search for a first win of 2024 continues after Warren Gatland’s tourists slipped to a 36-28 defeat against Australia in Melbourne.

Wales bounced back on countless occasions, but made too many key mistakes, as Filipo Daugunu scored two tries as the visitors’ suffered a ninth successive Test defeat, their worst run since 2013.

Daugunu scored the first try, before Jake Gordon extended their lead to 17-0. Wales fought back with two tries from Dewi Lake, and Liam Williams’ try took Wales to within one score of Australia, but they did not have enough to keep coming back into the clash.

A losing run stretching back to last year’s World Cup was extended last week in Sydney as the Wallabies began life under Joe Schmidt with victory in an encounter that would have encouraged two young sides.

Each has suffered a significant back row injury blow ahead of the second Test of this two-match series, with Schmidt forced to employ a new skipper in the absence of Liam Wright and Aaron Wainwright forced out with a shoulder problem for Wales.

Defeat last week plunged Gatland’s men to a new low of 11th in the world as pressure begins to build on the New Zealander, who has asked for patience as he rebuilds a side shorn of a number of senior leaders over the last 12 months. Can they finally find an elusive victory at AAMI Park?

Relive all of the action from Australia vs Wales below:

Australia vs Wales second Test

• Wallabies forced to switch skipper after injury hits Liam Wright, with James Slipper steppingin
• 7’ TRY! Daugunu secures dream start for Australia [7-0]
• 25’ TRY! Gordon punishes sloppy Wales [17-0]
• 28’ TRY! Dawi Lake scores after Wales drive well from the line out [AUS 17-7 WAL]
• 36’ TRY! Lake has another for the Welsh [AUS 20-14 WAL]
• HT: Australia 23-14 Wales
• 47’ TRY! Liam Williams has Wales’ third [AUS 23-21 WAL]
• 54’ TRY! Alaalatoa scores his first Wallabies try! [AUS 28-21 WAL]
• 68’ TRY! Daugunu has his second of the game [AUS 33-21]
• 70’ TRY! Dyer scores for Wales [AUS 33-28]
• FT: Australia 36-28 Wales

[13 July 2024 12:30 · Sonia Twigg]

Try! Australia 33-21 Wales

67 minutes: Try! Daugunu has his second try of the match!

It looked like the two teams were just exchanging penalties, but Liam Williams lept up to keep the ball into play, and just played it into the path of Daugnu.

He was completely rewarded for chasing so hard!

It was right on the touchline and Lolesio misses the conversion.

[13 July 2024 12:27 · Sonia Twigg]

Australia 28-21 Wales

64 minutes: Again Wales cannot capitalise, despite winning the line out.

There was almost a moment of opportunity when Lolesio spilled a catch, but Wales were not quite in the right position to really make the most of it.

[13 July 2024 12:25 · Sonia Twigg]

Australia 28-21 Wales

62 minutes: Australia have a line out now just outside the Wales 22.

They look to drive for the line, but it’s pulled back for an offside, and that might be a bit of a let off for Wales, who kick into touch for territory.

[13 July 2024 12:22 · Sonia Twigg]

Australia 28-21 Wales

60 minutes: There are just 20 minutes left in the match for Wales to try and find a way back into the game.

They have done it before, at one point they were 17-0 behind. But they have given away too many penalties at the wrong moments.

But they get the penalty this time after a good scrum!

[13 July 2024 12:20 · Sonia Twigg]

Australia 28-21 Wales

58 minutes: Wales drive forwards, the visitors’ support are all on their feet trying to will their side over the line.

There was maybe a metre in it, but Australia have turned this over! Valetini pulls out the turnover just on his own try line.

[13 July 2024 12:16 · Sonia Twigg]

Try! Australia 28-21 Wales

54 minutes: Australia drive for the line, and Alaalatoa has his first try for Australia!

They were just metres out, and that feels like a really big moment in the game.

Lolesio can’t quite send the conversion through the posts and it bounces back off the upright.

[13 July 2024 12:14 · Sonia Twigg]

Australia 23-21 Wales

53 minutes: Australia have a scrum, they cannot have another after the first one falls, so they tap and go.

The Wallabies have another penalty advantage, which they kick into touch and back the line out.

[13 July 2024 12:13 · Sonia Twigg]

Australia 23-21 Wales

51 minutes: Australia drive forwards, they are just metres for the line, they have a knock on and have been given the penalty.

Again against Liam Williams! He is involved in everything at the moment

[13 July 2024 12:13 · Sonia Twigg]

Australia 23-21 Wales

51 minutes: Australia drive forwards, they are just metres for the line, they have a knock on and have been given the penalty.

Again against Liam Williams! He is involved in everything at the moment

[13 July 2024 12:12 · Sonia Twigg]

Australia 23-21 Wales

51 minutes: The try was Liam Williams’ 21st try for Wales, which puts him seventh on the all-time list.

The referee and TMO are looking at an incident between Williams and Charlie Cale, a short lack of discipline, and Australia have the penalty, which they kick into touch.